Thursday, February 18, 2010

Olympian Sven Kramer Sheds Light On Sideline Reporters


How is it possible that a sports reporter could not recognize famous Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer?

On top of that, Kramer won a gold medal on the first day of the Vancouver Olympics. But a local NBC reporter interviewing the Olympian asked him to state his name, country and what event or medals he had won?

Kramer interjected the question by saying, “Are you stupid? Hell no I’m not going to do that,” according, to a Youtube video of the interview.

This is the interjection that should have taken place in thousands of newsrooms that continue to allow reporters with lack of sports knowledge to cover sports. Sideline reporters are supposed to know the craft of the sport as well as the athletes they are covering.

I don’t blame Mr. Kramer for asking the reporter “Are you stupid” because she along with a long list of other sideline reporters are oblivious to their stupidity.

Thanks to Mr. Kramer for calling the reporter’s bluff. He has shed a light on the growing epidemic of dummies in the field.

These reporters shouldn't be allowed to get away with their stupidity. They want the glitz and the glam of being around athletes, but don’t want to take time to study sports or the athletes that complete in the game.

A change is needed or more reporters are going to be asked, “Are you stupid?”

Until, news directors and producers start hiring reporters' with all-around sports knowledge-that’s when sideline reporting will change.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Vancouver Olympics Raise Questions on Luge Competition Safety


It was a scene nobody wanted to see at the dawn of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, but knew it was bound to happen on the super-fast luge track.

Georgian luger Nodar Kumantushvili, 21, was killed during a morning training run on the Whistler track. Kumantushvili was traveling nearly at the speed of 90 mph entering Curve 13 when he lost control on Curve16. The vast speed threw him off into a non-padded pole were he suffered injuries and later died.

The death of this young Georgian Olympian has left many athletes devastated and seeking questions of why this had to happen.

In deed, the luge competition has always been a dangerous and risky Olympic event, in which, may require more investigation of how to keep athletes safe. In this particular sport, athletes compete as an individual or with a partner, which is called a double.

This swift-track has dangerously taken the life of one Olympian and could possibly take more lives; if this track isn't reconstructed for better safety measures, training and controlling speed- drifts over 89mph.

Safety has always been a priority at Olympic Games; especially, when it comes to protecting athletes from external factors. What about protecting athletes from internal factors such as faulty equipment or adding more padded protection.